Golf-club.



A. DUNCAN.

GOLF CLUB.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. HHS.

1,322,182 Patented N0v.18, 19x9.

ALEXANDER DUNCAN, 0F WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

GOLF-CLUB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed December 13, 1918. Serial No. 266,523.

description I will refer to that part of the club head consisting of wood, fiber, aluminum 01' other relatively light material as the light section and that part of the club head consisting of metal or other relatively heavy material as the heavy sectionl The principal objects of my invention are to so construct, dispose and arrange the heavy section as to produce the highest etli ciency and the best results in the use of the club, and at the sametimc to simplify its manufacture and improve its durability.

Incarrying out myinvention I employ a light section which conforms closely to the shape of thefinishedclub head, and a heavy section having a flat portion which fits into a groove in the light section extending from the front to therback of thehcad and-formed in its under surface. or sole, with anen-- larged portion which fits into a cavity in the light section lying at the rear of and above the groove. In thecavity t c-acting shoulders on thelight sectiona-nd theheavy section also coiiperate in transmittingstrain from the heavy scctionito thelight section, and in preventing the heavy section from moving forward on impact Withthe ball; In .thesspreferred constructionthe groove is somewhat wideryat theflback than at the front, as is'the flat. portion of the heavy sec tion, and this construction assists in transmitting strain from the heavy section to the light "section and in preventing the heavy section. from moving forward on impact with the ball,

club heads, of the kindto which my invention applies, the necessary weight has commonly been in the form'of metal inserts or attachments .at the rear of the club head, but these have never extended across the sole to the face of the club in the space imme- Heretofore in theconstruction of golf head with the ball, and when this metal plate extends from the heel to the toe of the club head, the weight does not attain a maximum of efficiency and power on impact of the club head with the ball as it does when the weight is located to the rear of the effective striking face of the club head. By the effective striking face of the club head I mean that part of the flat face within which a ball can be hit with substantially good results.

In my invention the heavy section has a disposition of the wcight partly on the sole of the club head and partly at the rear of the club head, a further novel and distinguishing feature being that the portion of the weight on the sole does not extend from the heel to the toe of the club, but rather to that portion of the sole only which is to the rear of the efi'ective striking face of the club head Some of the additional advantages of my invention are that the fiat portion of the heavy section provides a sole plate which protects the club head from wear;-

that the flat portion extends up to the driving face and thus not only protects the club head at that point, but dispenses with the usual insert there of fiber or other material; that the flat portion provides a sufficient weight below the point of contact of the striking face-of the club head with the ball, so that the. ball is more easily and quickly gotten up; that the distribution of the weight of the heavy section is such as to given balance to the club head which is especially effective in action; and that both the flat portion and the enlarged portion of the heavy section so dispose the weighting of the club that it extends from the striking faceto the rear and upflthe back "oftthe club head conforming in width substantially to the length of the effective striking face of the club head, producing the best results in applying to the ball the energy of the swing of the club.

The various features and advantages of Ina-ll my invention will he more fully undo stood upon reference to the folloivuig detailed descriptiol'i talrcu in connection with the accompanyiug drawing and the scope of the of the club head invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of theliead of a golf club constructed in. accordal-ice with my invention; Fig. is a perspective view of the heavy section of the head; Fug. 3 is a perspective view of the llght section of the head viewed from, the under side; .llig. l is a bottom view of the light scction and the heavy section assembled; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on a plane indicated by the line 5--u of Fig. 4:, and Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on a plane indicated by the line 6--6 of Fig. i. 'lhroughout these views like characters refer to like parts.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 designates What I have termed the light sec tion of the club head. This li ht section conforms closely to the shape of finished head and is provided with the usual socket or scare construction at 11 by which the shaft of the club is attached and held. The under surface or sole of section 10 is pro,- vided with a shallow groove 12. This groove extends .from the front of the club head through to the haclr and may he of substantially uniform Width, but in the proferred construction is somewhat Wider at the back than-at the trout At the hack of the club head the groove 12 comnu'lnicates with a cavity 13. This cavity is shaped so as to provide a shoulder 141- Which faces backward. The cavity also extends a slight distance on either side of the groo e lit and provides an outline which conforms to the outline of the lead insert con'unonly found in golf clubs of the prior art.

The groove 12 and cavity 13 are provided for the reception of the heavy section 15, composed of any suitable metal. This heavy section comprises a Hat portion 16, which is of the same width and depth as the groove 12 and adapted to fit snugly into the latter. It also includes an. enlarged portion 17', which is preferably integral with the lat portion 16; hut extends considcrably above it and conuorises a considerable mass, as more clear" illustrateril in Fig. 6. The enlarged portion l? completely fills the cavity i The "forward cud of portion 16 is flush with the driving 1%: 1c The N urtace of the enlarged portion 1'5" is con c and shui'ied so as to accuratclv 'couforni to the shape of the 'hack of the ch Head. A plurality o 15 pass through countersunk open: v the flat portion 16 of the heavy section 15 into the light section l0, llcsidcs hav ing the convex hack or outer r'uirt'acc the enlarged portion .17 is provided with a for ti on. 1.0.

Wardly facing shoulder 20, which coopen ates with the shoulder lel: to transmit strain from the heavy section, 15 to the light secllhese shoulders transmit practi cally al l of the strain, but are, of course, assisted to some extent by the Wedge shape of the flat portion 16 (in proil'erred construction) and by the screws 19. The latter, liownwer, would be insuflicient to perform. this function without the employment of the cooperatingshoulders ll and 20. With out the shoulders lland 20, the flat portion 16 would exert such a pressure in service upon the screws 19 as to loosen then'i. and render the club useless.

It will be seen. that the flat portion 1.6 acts as a sole plate for the club head and thus protects it from wear in use. The :lor- Ward end of the flat portion 16, by extend-- ing so as to have its forward edge flush with the striking face 1', protects against excessive wear at this point of the club head and takes the place of the usual insert of fiber or other material, as above noted. The locationcf the enlarged portion 17 is'such as to bring'the center of the mass the heavy section high enough to apply an effective blow to the ball when struck by the club. The location of this mass at the back of the club head also brings the center of gravity of. the head an appreciable distance hack of a plane passing through the axis of the Sllt't'fl) of the club and substantially perpendicular to the sole of the club. Of course, other distributions of the Weight of the heavy section might be made so'as to vary the position of the center of gravity, but I have found that better results are obtained by an arrangcn'ient of the Weight of the heavy section which brings the center of gravity hack of said plane, as specified. Another advantage in locating the m'ass at the rear is the zulvantage oi the accessibility and ease of gouging out the cavity 13 so as to provide the shouldci." Hi This is an advantage over constructions where cooperating slmulders are located near the 1niddlo of the light section 10 and must be dug out by Working directly upon the sole of 1.0, Another advantage in the employment of the enlarged portion 17 is that of providing a. back surface, which Will have the outward I shape and appearance of the metal insert usually found in club heads of this type. (rollers are accustomed to the presence of metal at this point in such clubs and the employment of the enlarged portion 17 provides a club head which meets all the e pectations of the golfer in its appear-truce.

It will be observed that another advantage of my construction resides in the fact that if it becomes necessary to balance a particular club head in a particular Way by the addition of more met-ah SliHflL'l'llPl-tl may be )laced in OZUltlOS formed in the h ht i Z! tion 10 beneath the heavysection 15 and when the latter is in place,.;the club head will retain the same appearance and will not in anyway show dlsfigurement.

It will also be noted that my club head is sim Is in that it contains but two sections and t e screws which are nry to hold them together. These two sections can be easily manufactured and assembled The structure is also applicable to clubs of difierent designs and shapes, as will be obvious. The club head which I have reduced should be distin ished from thosec ub heads whereinaweig ting plate extends completely from the heel to the toe. Suchweighting lates do not, as heretofore stated, produce t e same effect as my invention, wherein the mass of the heav section is located directly beof metal is secured to the sole.

hind the e ective striking face. My in-, vention is also to be distinguishedfrom those club heads wherein a thin plate In such cases the plate does not add materially to the weight of the club head and is not re- 25 its sole from wear. Other features and adlied upon for weight, but merely to protect vanta of the invention will be a parent to those skilled in the art and nee not be further enumerated.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patnt'of the United States, is

1. A If club having a head cb'mprisin two sections, one of said sections being 0 relatively li ht material'and confor ning to the shape 0 the finished head with the exce tion of a groove extending across the so e transverse y of the shaft ofthe club and a cavit in the back "of thehead opposite the stri in face, aid groove and cavit? being continuousand v1 i between p anes substantially 'perpend cu ar to the sole and extending'transversely of the shaft at the outer limits'of'the effective striking face, the other section being a weighting section of relatively heavy material conformingto and secured in'said groove and cavity. 5

\ 2. A golf club having a head comprising two sections, one of said sections being of relatively 1i ht material and conforming to the shape '0 the finished head with the exce tion of a ve extending across the soe transverse y of the shaft of the club and a cavit in the back'of the head opposite the stri ing face, said groove and cavity being continuous and lying between lanes substantially perpendicular to the so e and extending transversely of the shaft at the outer limits of the eflective striking face, thejother section being a weighting section of relativel heavy material conforming to and. secured in said groove and cavity, the art of said weighting section in said groove ingof' substantial thickness thereby disposing a substantial part of said we htin section at the extreme end of the clu an formingthe lower part of the striking face. 8. A If club having a head comprisin two sect ons, one OfSflld sections being 0 relatively li ht material and conforming to the shape a? the finished head with the exce tion of a ve extending across the so e' transverse y of the shaft of the club and a cavityt in the back of the headopposite the stri ing face,-said groove and c'avity being continuous and between p anes substantially perpen icu ar to the sole and extending transversely of'the shaft at the outer limits of the effective striking face, the other section being 'a wei hting section of relatively heavy materia oonforming to and secured in said groove and cavity, the part of said weightin section in said there isposing a substantial part of said weighting section across the-center of the grogve being of substantia thickness sole transversely of the shaft and also causing the center of mass of the head to lie substantially forward of the rear side thereof.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of December,

ALEXANDER DUNCAN; 

